BioWare Is Making A Huge Mistake By Not Releasing 'Mass Effect: Andromeda' Story DLC

Video games are a business. The industry grows and changes every year but one constant remains: The point of video games isn't to play, it's to profit.

According to analysts at Newzoo, "2.2 billion gamers across the globe are expected to generate $108.9 billion in game revenues in 2017" which is a significant 7.8% increase from 2016.

As the industry has evolved, many publishers have shifted focus away from traditional single-player content in order to serve up multiplayer experiences that can be monetized more successfully over a longer period of time. This isn't a bad thing in and of itself, though 'games as service' has its share of pitfalls.

For one thing, it can also lead publishers to make decisions based entirely on the bottom line, and the bottom line sometimes misses other important details, like preserving a loyal fanbase or ensuring that long-time fans are also treated with respect. With older franchises adopting newer revenue models this is especially true.

Focusing on multiplayer at thee expense of single-player is misguided also because publishers can still make a lot of money off of single-player experiences, including single-player DLC.

When Rockstar failed to deliver story DLC for Grand Theft Auto V, it was a huge slap in the face to the millions of gamers who bought the game for its single-player campaign. Sure, many play the money-printing-software known as GTA Online, but many more would have gladly paid $15 for a new set of stories and heists within the solo campaign world. The mistake wasn't in fostering a GTA Online community but in ignoring the rest of the game's fanbase and their wallets.

Between this game and the Mass Effect 3 ending debacle, BioWare is having a very hard time winning the hearts and minds of gamers. Restoring good faith with the gaming community should be priority number one, but BioWare is placing all its eggs in the Anthem basket instead. That's a mistake, even if Anthem ends up being great. Anthem, you see, is entirely focused on multiplayer. It's entirely of the 'games as service' generation. Many of BioWare's oldest fans see that as anathema to their gaming preferences.

Instead of giving hardcore fans of this series what they want and nurturing that relationship, BioWare will continue to support only the multiplayer portion of Andromeda, replete with loot boxes and a steady revenue stream. It's less risky, more profitable, and ultimately the exact sort of hollow, soulless decision that destroys a franchise and scatters its fans, all thanks to a balance sheet.

Of course, with BioWare Montreal gone and its employees now working on EA's Star Wars games, none of this is surprising in the least. Not surprising, but still a huge shame.